16. A pious man, digging up the ground, found a
marble statue. It spoke to the man and asked to be cleaned
and to be placed in the house in a clean place, promising
riches. One day it directed him to go and find his friend
in a trap, free him and thus obtain a rich reward. He
did so. Then the statue asked the man to light a lamp in
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front of it. He understood it to mean that it was to be
worshipped. He took an axe to break it, but a demon came
out and offered great riches if he would spare the statue.
He refused and destroyed it. Next year he found a rich
treasure in the garden.
396. 16. A pious man, digging up the ground, found a
marble statue. It spoke to the man and asked to be cleaned
and to be placed in the house in a clean place, promising
riches. One day it directed him to go and find his friend
in a trap, free him and thus obtain a rich reward. He
did so. Then the statue asked the man to light a lamp in
- 153 -
front of it. He understood it to mean that it was to be
worshipped. He took an axe to break it, but a demon came
out and offered great riches if he would spare the statue.
He refused and destroyed it. Next year he found a rich
treasure in the garden.
